Puddling machine



March 15, 1932. I SIR. BLACKWELL I v1,849,903

PUDDLI NG MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Shee 1 Inventor & 5. 2?. Elm/Ewell A tlorri ey March 15, 1932- s. R. BLACKWELL 1,849,903

' PUDDLING MACHINE.

Filed Feb. 12, 1951 5 Sheets-Shee s w qiil iiiiijii A Home y Mey rch 15, 1932. s. R. BLACKWELL 1,349,903

, P UDDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Shes:- 4

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5. filwa/fiwez A Home y March 15, 1932. 5 R BLACKWELL 1,849,903

PUDDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Home y Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNrrsn STATES STEPHEN BOY BLACKWELL, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLiINOISj.

PUDDLING MACHINE Application filed February 12; 1931 Serial No. 515,391.

This invention relates to a puddling machine for saturating and settling earth in hi hways and railroad fills, levies, etc, the general object of the invention being to provide a frame which may be placed on a tractor or the like, and which supports a plurality of cylinders, each of which contains a. piston having a jet tube connected therewith and passing through the lower end of the cylin- 1 der, with means for introducing water into water will flow lower the piston thereof, with valvemeans for permitting the water to flow from one end of the cylinder when the water is being introduced into the other end thereof, and means for regulatting the flow of water from the lower end of the cylinder so that the water in the lower end of the cylinder acts as a I cushion to control the downward movement of the piston. i i

Another objectof the invention is to provide means whereby water flowing from the apparatus will be forced against the upward moving jet tube so as to'clean the same and thus prevent dirt from being carried by the tube into the cylinder.

Anotherobject of the invention is to so arrange the valve means of the apparatus that the water to and from the cylinders can be so controlled as to operate all the pistons or any desired number of pistons.

A further object of the invention is to'provide indicator means for indicating the distance that each j et'tube has entered the embankment or fill. Thisinvention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, refindicator weights.

erence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 1 I Figure 1 is an elevationof the apparatus placed on a tractor.

Fig. 2 is a plan Viewof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 83 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line '4=--4'of Fig 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of one of the cylinders.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lowerend of one of the cylinders.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing one of the pistons and its jet tube.

Fig. 8 is a view of the lower end of one of the jet tubes 'and showing the jet nozzle or cap separated from the tube. V v Fig. 9 isa section on line 9 9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a view of the scale strip.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the Fig. 12 is aside view of the valve arrangement and the pipes for controlling the circulation of water to the cylinders. I

In these drawings, the letter A indicates a horizontal frame supported by the tractor B and the letter C indicates an upright frame work supported on the rear part'of the frame A. A plurality of cylinders 1 is supported by the framework, the drawings showing three cylinders at the rear of the frame work 7 and two at the front thereof, but it will of course be understood that any desirednumber of cylinders can be used. 1

Each cylinder is connected to a channel member 2 by theclamps 3, the channel memher being vertically arranged and connected to the frame workiby the brackets 4 sothat the. cylinders can be readily removed'from theframe work or adjusted thereon to different'positionsk i '1 V .I f A piston 5is located in the cylinder,-each piston being of preferably theconst'ruction shown in Fig. 7 A jet tube Ghas its upper end passing through each piston and said upper end is preferably threaded through the piston and to thebase .7 of the bail 8 so that thebail is connected with'the piston. A A jet cap or "nozzle 9 is threaded to the lower end of the tube and said tube passes thru a sleeve 10 which has its upper end threaded in a hole formed in the center of the lower cap 11 0f the cylinder. A sleeve 12 has its lower end threaded in a hole formed in the center of the top cap 13 of each cylinder and said sleeve is formed with a lateral nipple 14 for receiving one end of a hose 15.

An L-shaped nipple 16 is threaded in a hole in the bottom cap of each cylinder, for receiving a hose17 anda nipple- 18-is-for-med on the sleeve 10 of each cylinder for receiving one end of the hose 19.

Three horizontal and parallel pipes 20, 21 and 22 are'supported by the frame work at oneside-thereofand the pipes 20 and 21.-are connected together by the pipes 23 and the valve casing 24 and by the pipes 25-and the valve casing 26. A supply pipe 27 is connectedwith thevalvecasing24, and the pipes.

28 connects the valve casing 26 to the pipe 22, and one of these pipes 28 contains-a valve casing29. v

A coupling 30 is connected with the rear fend of the pipe 20 and carries the. three nip ples 31, each of which contains avalve 32. Each of these nipples 31 is connected by a hose 15 to the upper part ofeach of thethree rear cylinders. A similar coupling-33 is connected with the forward end of the pipe 20 'and'carries-the t-wo nipples 34, each of which contains a valve 35; The nipplesare connected by hose 15 to the upper ends of the two front cylinders. The pipe 21 has at its rear 'end a coupling 36 carrying three valve equipped nipples 37 which are connected by the hose 17 to the lower ends-of the three rear cylinders and coupling 38 at the front'and carries two valve equipped nipples 39 and has its nipples connected by hose 17 to the lower end of the twofront cylinders.

thereto a; coupling 40, carrying three valve equipped nipples 41, connected by hose 19 to sleeves 10 at the lower ends of thethree rear.

cylinders and a-coupling 40 is connected with the front end ofthepipe 22 and carries the two valve equipped nipples 42 which are connected by hose 19'to the sleeve 10 of the two front cylinders, i

- The valves 43 and 44 inzthe'casings 24 and 26 are two-wayvalves so that the valve 43 can be turned from a position closing com:

munication of the supply pipe 27 w ith the apparatus toa position where thewaterfrom thecsupply pipe jwill flow-to one of the pipes 23 into the pipe 20 and to another position where. thewvater from the suply pipe Wlll flow through the'other pipe 23. into the pipe The valve 44 can be moved to aposition to placethe pipe 28 intoYcommunication with either the pipe 20 or the pipe 21.

lVith the valves :43 and 44 in the position" they occupy in; Fig; 12, the water will flow;

I ders so as to force the pistons wardly. The rearend of the pipe 22 has attached from the supply pipe 27 through the valve casing 24 and the upper tube 23 into the pipe 20, the upper pipe 25 being closed by the ter the earth of the fill or embankment, and

this flow of water from the nozzle or jet facilitate the downward movement of the tube and piston.

The water in the cylinder being displaced by the downward moving pistons -flows through the hose or tubes. 17 into; the nipples at the ends of the pipe 21 through thelower pipe 25, valve casing 26, into the pipes 28 and from these pipes28'the water will flow into the pipe 22 through the nipples carried by the couplings 40 and-41 into the hose 19 and escape through the-sleeves 10 at the lower ends of the cylinders, so that this water will washany dirt or mud sticking to the tubes and thus prevent this dirt or mud f the; pipe 21 and thus pass thru the couplings be raised, the

36 and 38'and their nipples and through the 7 tubes or hose'17 into the bottom of the cylintherein up- The water forced from the cylinders by the upward moving pistons will flow through the hose 16 and through the couplings 30 and. 33 and their nipples into the pipe 20 and through the upper pipe 25 and valvecasing 26 into the pipe 28 into pipe 22 and thus this water will pass through thecouplings-40iand end of the cylinders can; be used; as a; check for the downward moving pistons.

carried by the coupling, any desired cylinder or a number of cylinders can be rendered in? By providing a valve ineach of thenippl'es active by closing the valve leadingto the said T cylinder or cylinders which controlsthe circulation of the water to such cylinder or cylinders A weight 45is slidably arranged in'the connected with one side of each ofthe members 2. One end of the flexible member 47 is connected with said weight, and this member passes over the pulley 48 supported in a bracket 49 at the top ofthe member 2 and then the cable passes through i a packing gland 5O inthe top of the sleeve 12 through the sleeve where it is connected with the bail 8 of the piston. Thus movement of the piston will be communicated to the weight, and the pointer 46 on the weight cooperating with the scale 47 will indicate the distance the jet tube has entered the embankment or fill.

i The sleeve 10 is provided with a packing 10 and the pressure in supplypipe 27 should be sufhcient to cause thewater plowing from such jet to cut the earth away from the jet point so that the water will not interfere with the downward movement of the jet tubes.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination andarrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of'the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new is 1. A puddling machine comprising a vertically arranged cylinder, a piston therein, a jet tube having its upper end connected to the piston and passing through the same, said tube passing through the lower end of the cylinder, a pipe connected with the upper end of the cylinder, a pipe connected with the low-er end thereof, means for introducing Water into one pipe and discharging it from the other and vice versa to lower and raise the piston, the water introducedinto the upper end of the cylinder flowing through the tube, a sleeve at the lower end of the cylinder through which the tube passes, a pipe in communication with the bore of the sleeve and means for causing the Water discharged from both ends of the cylinder to flow into said pipe, and means for indicating the amount of movement of the piston whereby the amount of penetration of the tube in the earth will be indicated.

2. A puddling machine comprising a wheel supported frame, a number of vertically arranged cylinders at the rear of said frame, a number of vertically arranged cylinders in front of said frame, a piston in each cylinder, a jet tube connected with the piston and having its upper end passing through the piston, the tube passing through the lower end of the cylinder, a tube connected .with the upper ends of each cylinder, a tube connected with the lower end thereof, a manifold pipe having a number of' branches at each end thereof, each branch at one end being connected to the tubes which are connected: with the-upper ends of the front cylinders, and the'branches at the other end of the-manifold'being. connectedwith the tubes which are connected with the upper ends ofthe rear cylinders, a

second manifold having branches at its ends connected with the tubes leading tothe lower ends of the front and rear cylinders, a supply pipe, valve means forconnecting the supply pipe with'either one of the manifoldpipes,

a discharge pipe, and valve means connecting either manifold pipe with .theadischarge pipe.

. 3. A puddling machine comprising a wheel supported frame, a number ofvertically ar.-

ranged cylinders at the rear of, said frame, a number of vertically arranged cyhnders'in front of said frame, a piston ineach cylinder,

a j ettube connected with thepiston and having itsupper end passing through the piston, the tube passing through the lower end of the cylinder, a'tube connected withthe upper end of'eachcylinder, a tubef connected with the lower end thereof, a manifold pipe havingv a number of branchesat each end there- I of,-each branch atione end being connected to thetubes which are connected with the upperends of the front cylinders,. and the branches at the other end of the manifold being connected with the .tubes which are connected with the -upper ends of the rear cylinders, a second manifold having branches at its ends connected, with the tubes leading to the lower ends of the front andrear cylin- 4. A puddling machine comprlsing a-swheel supported frame, a numberof verticallyarranged cylinders at the rear of said frame, a number of vertically arranged cylinders in front ofsaid frame,,a piston in each cylinder,

ajet tube connected-with the piston and hava ing itsupper end passing through thepiston, the tube passing through the lower end of the cylinder, a tube connected with the upper end of each cylinder, a tube connected with the lower end thereof, a'manifold-pipe having a number ofbranches at each end thereof, each-branch at oneend being connected to the tubes which are connected with the upper ends of the front cylinders, and the branches at the other end of the manifold being connected withthe tubes which are connected with the, upper ends-of-the rear cylinders, a second manifold havingbranches at its ends connected with the tubes leading tothe lower'ends of the front and rear cylmders, a supply'pipe, valve means for connect- "ing-thesupply pipe with either one of the manifold pipes, a discharge pipe, valve means connecting either manifold pipe with the discharge pipe, a valve in the discharge pipe for regulating the flow ofwater from the lower endszof' the cylinders whereby said water will act as check means for the down- WaId mOVIIIg pistons, and a valve 1n each branch of each manifold.

5. A puddling machine 'comprisinga wheel supported frame, a number of vertically air rangedcylinders at the rear of said frame, a number of vertically arranged cylinders in front of said frame, a piston in each cylinder, a jet tube connected with the piston and having its upper end passing through the piston, the tube passing through the lower end of'thecylinder, a'tube connected with the upper ends of each cylinder, a tube connected with the lower end thereof, a manifold pipe having a number of branches at each end thereof, eachvbranch at one end being-connected to the tubes-which are connected with the-upper ends of the front cylinders, the

ends of the front and rear cylinders, a supp y supp y pipe with either one of the manifold pipes, a discharge pipe, valve means connectlng either manifold pipe with the discharge pipe, a valve in the discharge pipe for regulating the flow of water from the lower ends of the cylinders whereby said water will act as check means for the downward moving pistons, a valve in each branch of each mani-,

ipe, valve means, for connecting the fold, means whereby the water from the discharge pipe 1s conveyed to points adjacent the lower ends of the cylinders to contact the tubes below the cylinders, and indicator means fora-each cylinder, to indicate, the

amount of penetration of the jet tubes.

In testimony whereof'I aflixrmy signature.

STEP-HEN ROY BLAGKWELLi/ branches at the other end of the manifold p for the-downwardm'oving pistons, a valve in vthe cylinders. v

6.'A puddling machine comprising a each branch of each'manifold, and means whereby the water fromthe discharge pipe is conveyed to points adjacent the lower ends of the cylinders to contact the tubes below wheel supported frame, .a number of vertically arranged cylinders at the rear'of said frame, a number of vertically'arranged cylinders, at the front of'the frame, a piston'in each cylinder, a jet tube connected with the piston and having its upper end passing through the piston, Ithe tubes-passing through the-lower ends oft-he cylinders, a tube connected with the upper ends of each cylinder, a tube connected" with the lower end thereof, a manifold pipe having anum- 'ber of branches at each end thereof, each branch at one end being connected to the tubes which, are connected with the upper ends of the front cylinders, the branchesat the other end'of' the manifold being connectediwith'the tubes which are connected with thez upper ends of the rear-cylinders, a

second; manifold having branches 'at'itsends connected with the tubes leading to thelowe'r V 

